St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-09
BRIDGE TEE CROSSINGS.
An Enthusiastic Mass Meeting at
Turner Hall s.OOms the Rridges.


The mass meeting held at Turner hall
last night to boom the bridging of the rail-
road tracks at Washington avenue and
Third, Fourth and Fifth streets north was
characterized by great enthusiasm and
unanimity of opinion. S. A. Myers was
elected chairman and G. f. Baxter secre-
tary. The first speaker was City ATTORNEY
Cross, who detailed at great length the
legal history of the business in hand, by
which the audience was permitted to see
the high ability and the superior industry of
the clty'S solicitor, and got passing glimpse
of some of the legal aspects of the case.
After long review it became apparent that
citizens had not been benefited by the law
yerS legal lore. for having gained an opin-
ion of the supreme court OH the question of
compelling the companies to bridge over
the streets-an opinion which showed the
profundtv of the learning of the bench and
shed glory on the modest city attorney-he
has concluded TO bridge over the tracks in
stead of under them. and this will neceSsi-
tate a new decision from the bench, which
will probably be reached after some years.
The meeting was not pleased with the
work. Its sentiments were voiced by
Byron Sutherland when he referred,
with fine sarcasm, to the undying
etfugence with which the supreme court
decision Ornamented the noble captain
the only effect which said decision had
The city engineer, Mr.. Rinker, detailed at
length the scheme he had made for the
bridges and entered into a minute descrp-
ton of their construction. Mayor Ames
was present and assured the assembled citi-
EenS that the way to resume was to re-
Eume"-if you want bridge just stir up
the animals till it is forthcoming. The
mayors remarks were received with wild
enthusiasm. Anthony Kelly asked his
honor why, if he had the interests of the
North side at heart, he did not keep police
men at the crossings of the railroads. with
orders to arrest all employees Oh
trains that blockaded the street? This
question would have abaShed a timid man,
but Mayor Ames rose grandly to the require
mentS of the situation and told the grocery
man that he could not keep his whole force
at the tracks, they had other work. Where
apOn the redoubtable Anthony returned to
the attack by informing his honor that a
short time ago three officers stood near the
Washington crossing, calmly surveying a
rain that had stood across the avenue for
tull seven minutes, while Mr.. Kelly vainly
asked them to order the street cleared.
They had no orders to keep trains NOV
ng." His honor did not deign a reply to
his remark. Messrs. Anthony Kelly. By
ION Switzerland. c. p. Lowell, q. l..
Baker and c. f. Baxter, the COM
nttee Oh resolutions, reported a
long preamble reciting the incenveniencies
and dangers to the public from the switch
ing OF cars and passing trains, the damage
70 BUSINESS and the remiSSness of city Off
elals III enforcing present ordinances COM
pelllng companies to keep the streets open,
and resolutions demanding the rigid en-
forcement OF all city ordinances bearing on
the subject. demanding that the tracks be
bridged. that Sixth street and Lvndale ave-
nues be opened and bridged, and pledging
the support or the meeting to those ends.
After great many interesting speeches by
prominent residents of the North side, the
meeting decided upon a permanent organi
cation, and the following officers
we're elected: President, S. \. Meyers; vice
president. A. Kelly: secretary, c. F. Bax
ter; treasurer, j. o. Wild executive com.
mittee. the president and vice president. ex
Df1icio, and E. S. Corser, G. l.. Baker, Col
F. 7. Hooker. Peter Rowen and S. C. Gale
The mayor was requested to place a police
man at each crossing, to keep the streets
cleared. A committee of 100. chosen from
men most deeply interested IN the bridgln!
problem, will be named to assist the othe
officials elected. The boom was grea
success. and the tracks must go down ant
the bridge up.